Josh Griffiths not the long-term answer, West Brom playoff push hangs on Alex Palmer fitness
Josh Griffiths made his West Brom debut on Wednesday evening against Blackburn Rovers and was sadly slightly culpable for Rovers’ late equaliser.
The 21-year-old had made a couple of good stops during the clash with Jon Dahl Tomasson’s side, however, the mark of a good keeper is to deliver in the crucial moments.
Ben Brereton Diaz’s free-kick was well-struck, but we all know the former Portsmouth loanee should have been saving the effort. If David Button had produced a similar error, he would’ve felt the wrath of The Hawthorns. Griffiths may well be in the early part of his West Brom career, but he has featured far more regularly than Button has over the course of the past year.
It wasn’t as if he was a player being thrown in straight from the youth set-up. He has the experience and should have been doing a lot better with the effort from the Blackburn talisman.
The draw against Rovers has taught us that Alex Palmer needs to return, and fast. The Baggies simply don’t have the strength in depth in the goalkeeping department to mount a playoff push. Carlos Corberan’s decision to drop David Button could also have caused an issue.
The veteran goalkeeper now knows where he lies in the manager’s thoughts. If Palmer isn’t fit for the trip to Watford, the West Brom boss is faced with another tough choice. Does he stick with Griffiths and risk damaging his confidence before his Baggies’ career has really got going, or does he chop and change once again?
Albion are still in a good position, just one point off the playoffs and well-placed to push on as the season edges closer to its conclusion – but ensuring Palmer is back in between the sticks is an absolute must.
In other West Brom news, Albion pulled the plug on a late loan signing on deadline day.